CREWE hit the top of Division One thanks to a convincing four-wicket win on Saturday over previously unbeaten Leycett.

The visitors, who had beaten Elworth the previous week, batted first and Phil Marsh made a significant breakthrough when he had prolific opener Dan Redfern – who is on Derbyshire’s books – well caught at slip by Gullem Bodi, a stand-in professional from South Africa.

Skipper Mike Holt bowled a tight spell that yielded two wickets, and when Bodi snapped up two of his own, including that of Sri Lankan professional Darshanpriwa, Leycett were in deep trouble.

Holt (3-25) picked up another wicket to reduce the visitors to 82-6. A stand of 40 steadied the ship, but two smart run-outs by Martin Webb and two more wickets for Marsh (3-27) saw Leycett 146ao.

Martin Dawson and Riz Arshad put on 20 before the latter was adjudged lbw for 12. Dawson and Bodi took the score to 58 before Dawson was out for 22.

Bodi showed his class with lovely shots before being caught in the deep for 38, at 74-3. Tom Gower took over and smashed the ball around the park in a superb innings of 57 which took Crewe to the brink of victory.

He cracked seven fours and two sixes in a match-winning knock which received good support from Tom Leese (15no) as Crewe eased home with 147-6.

Heroic Rob Beech helped ELWORTH to salvage a draw with Meir Heath.

Batting first, the Meir innings was dominated by Joe Woodward who hit 10 fours and three sixes in a two-and-a-half-hour stay.

The Elworth attack, still missing strike bowers Matt Buckley and Chris Connolly, laboured in sunny conditions. Once Hasantho Fernando joined Woodward in an 80-minute partnership of 145 it was a case of damage limitation for the Foxes. Woodward (92no) was still there when Meir’s innings was declared closed at 240-4.

A back-to-the-wall innings from Beech and a season’s best in fine style from Ross Kesteven were the key to Elworth’s draw.

Opener Beech saw four of his team-mates go for nought as all tried but none succeeded in joining him with a profitable partnership.

It was seventh-man Kesteven who finally lent a hand. A partnership of 91 in 90 minutes raised home spirits.

It was the introduction of bowler Nathan Kingsbury that reignited Heath’s victory bid. Having reached a well-deserved 50, Kesteven clipped Kingsbury straight to mid-wicket.

Alex Edmonstone was then trapped first ball and Elworth were wobbling at 120-7. Veteran Rob Elliot got his head down and stayed with Beech while 18 were added, but was then disastrously run out trying to get Beech on strike. Jim Higgins came out with just four-and-a-half overs left and they held on with 156-8. Beech finished on 58.

In Division Two, a massive 147no from Raj Kumar kept WESTON top of the pile.

Hosts Oulton had batted first and made an intimidating 303-5dec, but Kumar, supported by Kaz Halleem (65no) and Phil Stockton (47), spurred his team to victory with 305-4.